The Vernon Butler thread...

First pick in the 2016 NFL draft for the Carolina Panthers...

Discuss...

 

Feel the Vern 2016.

 

Im guessing the talent was too hard to pass up. Still need de, cb and ot help.

 

For the second year in a row, Dave Gettleman spent his first round pick on a player who will barely see the field unless one of the team's best players (TD for Shaq, Star for Butler) gets hurt or is no longer on the team. Vernon Butler is purely a nose tackle. He is not a defensive end, he is not good at rushing the passer. He may end up being a very good nose tackle.

 

Who would you have picked at that spot Collin? I will be interested to see the DL snap counts this season. I bet he plays more than Shaq did last year because he will be in a regular rotation. I wouldn't be surprised to see Star, KK and Butler have similar snap numbers per game by the last half of the season even if all 3 are healthy. That alone may keep all 3 healthy.

 

Athletic interior lineman with long arms and outstanding athleticism that allows him to work on offensive linemen with a combination of power and quickness. Butler has a raw but diverse skillset as a pass rusher that should excite NFL evaluators who see the potential of what he can be with more coaching and experience. With his effort and defensive ball awareness, his ceiling appears to be high with a chance to become a high-*level starter for an odd or even front defense.

 

I would have been thrilled with Mackensie Alexander, who I have as the second best defensive back in the draft. He could have stepped in for Norman immediately. Kevin Dodd and Noah Spence would have been exciting choices at DE as well, with Dodd being more stout and Spence being a pure pass rusher. I'm not as high on Jason Spriggs as those other three, but having a solid left tackle would have been nice too.

 

They were making a huge deal om how Mobile hee is. Sideline to sideline. Unbelievable 3 man rotation between star, kk, and now butler.